Marietta Stories | Crazy cool stories from the community builders of Marietta, Georgia

What makes the town of Marietta, Georgia so welcoming, friendly and the center of Southern hospitality? Listen each week as veteran podcaster Bill Nowicki dives deep to tell the heartwarming, sad and funny stories from the people that make up the fabric of this historic city.

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When she was 15 years old, Claire Harvey taught a child with autism in her gymnastic class. It was then and there she dedicated her life to occupational therapy, diagnosing movement problems and teaching parents how to help their children through their challenges.

She also learned to listen and find that unique way to reach each client.

Claire shares the basics of the occupational therapy and examples on how parents can and do help their children gain mobility. She also discusses how to get help from Babies Can’t Wait, the state program that helps infants to three year olds with developmental delays.

Trevor Beemon gave me a tour through the Root House, the oldest wood frame house in Marietta. Trevor knows the Root House well; he started volunteering at there at 12.

He kept his interest in history, earned a degree from Kennesaw University, worked at the Atlanta History Museum for several years, joined the board of Cobb Landmarks and Historical Society, Inc. and was named Executive Director in 2014.

We discussed the house, the renovation of the Root House and the forensics of restoration. For example, did you know that settlers burned houses just to get the nails, because each was made individually?

Trevor and the rest of the folks at Cobb Landmarks would love for you to get involved. They have a very ambitious $600k project to further develop the Root House into something all of us in Marietta can be proud of…

Cassandra Buckalew is on a mission. She loves Marietta and wants to help businesses with her interior designs. After all, she totally transformed Tiny Bubbles Tea Bar, House of Lu and the Brickyard on the Marietta Square.

But that’s not all.

Cassandra and her husband Brian created Marietta Trolley Tours, because she felt like the city really needed one. Absolutely right!

The whole design thing started young for Cassandra. From doll houses to rearranging her furniture late at night, Cassandra is wired to design.

Stephanie Taylor grew up the daughter of missionaries and she spent time in the Netherlands as a child. There Stephanie learned to help people as her faith calls her to do. About a year ago when she was diagnosed with cancer (she thankfully in remission), she came across a fair-trade company called Trades of Hope, mytradesofhope.com/stephanietaylor.

She realized that Trades of Hope helped people, so she decided to be a Compassionate Entrepreneur.

Everything that Trades of Hope sells helps women and their families. From not having to give a baby up for adoption, to not having to sell their bodies, Trades of Hope empowers women in 16 countries.

Rhoda Vickers is knocking it out of the park! Her blog southerhospitalityblog.com has over 400,000 page views per month and 190,000 unique views / month.

But like most success stories, it was not easy getting there.

Rhoda Vickers grew up in Marietta. As she says, it was “the sticks.” Her Dad was a preacher and her Mom stayed at home and took care of things.

She ended up working in Marietta as a secretary. When they introduced the word processor to her, she hated it. But after a while, she fell in love with it and became an expert.

When the internet came along, Rhoda realized that she loved that too. Gone was the control the magazines had over content. She could share er decorating ideas and pictures with other people that loved the same thing.

So about 10 years ago, she started the Southern Hospitality Bog, when living in Birmingham — and it took off.

Then in 2011 everything changed. Her husband got into legal trouble and they divorced. Rhoda moved back in with her parents in the same house they lived in when she was a kid.

But, she kept on blogging and told her readers about her life issues. They 100% supported her and her blog continued to grow.

Nuha grew up in Bagdad, Iraq and started a business in 1999. When the war with Iraq started in 2003, she contracted with Americans to help rebuild the country. Then the insurgency and armed men showed up at the wrong house.

She escaped to Jordan and worked her way to her country of spiritual origin, the US. Now she owns Cleo Coffee Shop right off the Square in Marietta. With all the discussion of immigrants these days, Nuha shares her unique and fascinating story with us. You’ll be glad you listened.

How many local pharmacy do you know of? I thought they were all replaced by the big chains. But I was wrong. Turns out Poole’s Pharmacy has been serving the people of Marietta for since 1974, when Mr. Poole opened the store near Kennestone Hospital.

Thomas Sherrer’s Dad John, joined Mr. Poole when he graduated pharmacy school in 1979. Thomas moved the practice to their current location, right next to Dave Poe’s BBQ, west of the square on Whitlock.

Thomas’ talks about his journey to Poole’s. Sure he helped out when he was younger, but he wasn’t sure being a pharmacist was the path he wanted to take. Marietta is lucky he came around and decided to take over.

Another millennial making a difference.

Thomas shows up to work everyday committed to carrying on Poole’s traditions. He was taught that when customers are sick, they are vulnerable and needed your help.

Thomas and his staff makes sure his customers are supported both when they are sick and when they are well again.

Daniel has been around computers his entire life. With a dad who worked for IBM, PCs showed up early and Daniel feel in love with technology.

At age 15 he got his first cell phone (a flip phone), but didn't discovered his first MacBook until his twenties and he fell in love all over again.

Daniel shares some of his techniques to train older folks and people that struggle with technology. During the day Daniel works in Marketing. He loves working with small businesses and does freelance work helping small organizations get their message out to their local communities. I think he is on the right track.

As Pete says, he’s a music teacher for 700 of the best kids in the world. But he has even bigger plans (more about that later).

Pete moved here from NJ after being a full-time performer (singer, actor, director, magician, balloonist, costumed character - whatever paid the bills) in NJ, NYC and Philly to set his wife up with her new job in Atlanta. He plan was to continue south and perform with Disney. While waiting for the green light from Orlando, he started as a substitute teacher at Kincaid Elementary here in Marietta.

Then in fell in love with the kids and knew he was meant to stay.

Over 4 years ago, he started PSBcreative, a full service theatrical production company. This venture was a natural progression since Kincaid elementary was earning an excellent reputation for putting on high quality shows.

The team created an original rock musical specifically for young performers that deals with bullying which received really cool media coverage and now is represented by a soundtrack on iTunes.

Currently Pete and his team facilitate two after-school arts programs that annually gives thousands back to Kincaid. We have 1000s of costumes, props, scenic pieces (most of which as stored in Pete’s basement - he has an amazingly understanding wife) that are available to rent.

Pete hopes to eventually get a "show bus" on the road so we can bring our costumes, etc. to schools and help them strengthen their programs. Sort of like a Wells Fargo Wagon from the old days but instead we're loaded up with show stuff and that shows up in school’s parking lot. We believe that putting on a show can be an amazing community builder. We really want to become known to groups that may not have the means to furnish a show. We believe there\'s an infinite amount of positive ripples for a student, school and community through participating in programs such as our\'s.

PSBcreative is now energized by a team of veteran educators and performing arts professionals who each are passionate about our mission to help as many schools and community groups as we possibly can. Some of my former students come back and work with us. We have a production in December which has been designed, choreographed and directed by a former student.

In early 2017 we'll begin rehearsals for an exciting endeavor that we've never attempted before. We\'re going to bring open-air theatre to Cobb County. We'll be performing Alice in Wonderland, outside on a playscape, under the lights at night. My team thinks I\'m crazy (and I am) but they\'re used to it by now. With each project we must seek opportunities to grow by challenging ourselves. It believe this one will be one of our most inspired productions yet.

Born in Pakistan, Shahid traveled to England with his family when he was 10 years old.

He loves the Liverpool soccer (football). Shahid was always confident, even though he couldn’t speak the language. He struggled until college, when he picked up his game. He studied information technology (IT) and graduated in 1998. As an IT guy, he learned to listen and was empathetic to people’s struggles with technology.

Shahid shares his biggest IT tip with Bill, turn it off and turn back on again.

When Shahid looked for to change countries he considered several places: Turkey, Canada, Dubai, and great thing for us he chose Marietta, Georgia, USA.

Shahid started Kvalito with clothes and accessories, a lot with the Asian flavor.

Kvalito comes from the international language of Esperanto meaning 'Quality' or 'Degree of Excellence'. I think he is on to something…

Carlos Marin grew up in Mexico and came to this country at the age of 15, without speaking a word of English. He met a kindly teacher in high school who helped him navigate through the difficult transition. He also worked in his brother’s restaurant and eventually went into business with him.

Some years later, he is running his own business, Best Hand Car Wash on Whitlock Ave, building great customer service every time he sees you.

Carlos also talks about his great family, his wife and four kids.

I think Carlos can teach a little about customer service to everyone, but could use some help dealing with his teenage daughter.

Christa McCay, the Registrar of the Marietta Museum of History and she thinks holding a piece of Marietta history in your had and knowing the story of the item, is the her passion. She also talks about her love of cemeteries, the museum’s disaster plan and some of the folks that are buried there.

On October 15th, she has a guided tour of the city cemetery and tickets are limited. Check it out!

Johnny Walker and Carey Cox know Marietta. It’s probably because they lived here since they were born and their ancestors lived and ran businesses here too. Carey wanted to continue their descendants’ entrepreneurial ways and asked Johnny to start a new business. So began Johnny Walker Realty (http://www.johnnywalkerrealty.com).

Bill sits down with them and talks about their lives and why community and Marietta are so important to them.

Johnny talks about his early years working in his Dad’s clothing store, Johnny Walker, Inc. Johnny is the son of Johnny “Mac” Walker, who started the clothing store many years ago on the Marietta Square and expanded as the company grew. Johnny worked for his Dad and learned to take care of customers.

Johnny recalls many things about Marietta growing up like trying to climb a greased pole in the Square for a dollar bill.

Carey Cox is next and he discusses his family. His ancestor was the first medical doctor in town. Carey recalls a simpler time in Marietta, where as kids he would ride their bike to schools and go all over town without an issue. His father started a printing company that ran for many years in town and Carey was paid in Cokes for his printing deliveries. He remembers those days with an antique soda machine in his office.

Carey worked as a mortgage broker and began selling real estate and decided it was time to start a business. Who else to teacup with, but Johnny Walker.

Does starting a new venture seem a little stressful? If you walk by the office at 262 Church Street some evenings you just might hear Carey playing his Gibson guitar. He calls it his stress ball.

Sally is the dynamic executive director of the Marietta / Cobb Museum of Art. Over her 8 years, she has grown the museum and reached out to the community to support art and build the community through art.

Chalktoberfest is a huge deal and is happening October 8 and 9th, 2016 in the Marietta Square. Three years ago when Chalktoberfest started there were 40 artists. Since then it has grown every year and this year there are 88 artists from 3 countries!

The theme of this years Chaltoberfest is the old masters and includes 3D chalk and vertical boards (plywood with house paint).

Mary Jane Huegel is not feeling well and sent me this update to include...

Well this is a trip I make every year about the first of September. I am just over the summers in Atlanta and need a change from the heat! One of my best friends, and also someone I teach art with has a place up there! One year we go with our spouses and then the following year we invite artists to paint!

It started when Ginny and I took a trip to San Miquel de Allende, Mexico for a Tim Horn are class! I'll never forget because it was my 50th birthday! Wow what a gift to myself! But, Ginny and I made some nice new friends from all over the country! Ginny and I go back way before this... But now every other year many of the folks from the trip from San Miguel meet back up in Maine and paint together! We have a blast painting, sharing, enjoying Gods Amazing creation! I'll send photos! But this year... Ginny and I asked our art students if they would like to come for an art workshop taught by Ginny and I to paint in Maine and we taught them all week! It was an amazing trip! So much happened! Prices coming!

We had 8 of our art students from Georgia come to paint! Ginny's husband,Jim, is an amazing chef and he spoiled us at each meal! Not sure we can get him to do this again... as he and his sue chef where exhausted by the end of the week! Maybe I can get some testimonials from our student, if you want? Anyway, Ginny and I, gave them our all! Ginny and I are really overjoyed and proud of these teachable art students and the progress they have made! I think I have found my calling! I love sharing what was so graciously given to me with others for their enjoyment! This is truly rewarding to me! I believe that art in my life has brought about so much calming joy! I especially love painting Plein Aire (outside) as I just love being in nature! I really need to share this with others. I love people. I want to help people if I can. It's Not all about selling my art! Although, it is affirmation when people do purchase my art! But I'm reminded frequently, it was given to me for my enjoyment! So I continue to move in the emotions and love of my joy! So blessed to be able to do this! I have to say... I really do appreciate the precious collectors of my art. I hope and pray that my art brings you joy and happiness and that you see its value everyday of your life! Truly that is my hope! There are many hard days when we as artist wonder why are we doing this!? It's a tough gig! Seriously, I feel like I've been to med school! Somedays, It's a love / hate relationship! But what can I do??? It's who I am!

*WARNING* Michael discusses some parts of the fighting in Marietta that may be disturbing to some viewers.

Michael shares his love of history and how he became interested in becoming a historian.

After that, Michael recounts Marietta as the Civil War becomes real. Battles rage around Marietta and then the chaos as the Confederate troops leave and the Union troops take over. Imagine 100,000 troops occupying the Square.

Overnight Marietta transformed itself from a Confederate hospital center to a Union hospital center. Some of these buildings still stand today.

Several other interesting to understand and intense time in Marietta history.

Contact Michael to find out more about lectures, battlefield tours and lots of other things.

Bill continues his interview with Jenny King of the Red Door Gallery. He meets up with Jonathan Chery, a work friend.

Jill Kettles talks about Harris Kettles of the Marietta Daily Journal and living near the train. She recalls the important role the actress Joanne Woodward played in revamping the Stand Theater and how to mow the hilly lawn with a chain (Marietta is hilly).

Emily Ryals, the director of the Marietta Art Walk shows up and Emily, Jonathan and Bill set off to check on things and lay out Pokemon themed clues. They discuss the Pokemon craze and how Emily is using it to help local artists and businesses in the square.

Bill speaks with Pete the husband of an artist. Pete’s a nice guy and does a nice job selling his wife’s art.

Tom Jenkins the photographer talks about Marietta and why it is great.

Emily discusses her daughter’s first day of school and talks about home school.

Susan Smith spends a few seconds saying hi and catch up on their lives.

They go to Tiny Bubbles Tea Bar (http://www.tinybubblesteabar.com/) and meet the owner Brielle Gaines. Jonathan and Bill enjoy a bubble tea and Emily moves on, but not before she get Bill and Jonathan to see Katie Bush and they talk chalk art.